Niles schools plan to try again

NILES -- Have an opinion on Niles Community Schools' bond issue? Then watch your mailbox. About a thousand of the roughly 5,700 residents who voted in the district's failed bond election back in February will receive a questionnaire this week from the school board. Results from the 13-question survey, which are due back by Sept. 8, will be used by the new bond steering committee that's eyeing a 2007 millage election. The new steering committee includes members of the Save Our Schools group that organized opposition to the district's initial 7-mill, $105.2 million plan, which centered around building a new high school. Mike Waldron, who was on the initial steering committee but in the end opposed its recommendation, was busy stuffing the surveys, which he helped write, in envelopes Tuesday at the administrative center. "I do believe we need to put some money into the school district to repair the things that need to be repaired," he said. Gina Schimmel, who was also part of the initial steering committee and later the SOS, agrees something needs to be done in Niles' facilities. "I didn't see a need for a new high school in order to fix the buildings. The cost was way too much for what I thought the area could afford," she said. "I do want to see the buildings fixed and brought up to code and energy efficient, but it's got to be done in a way the community will be able to approve and be able to support." The new steering committee, which includes some of the original members as well as SOS members, teacher representatives from each building, and several community leaders. Superintendent Doug Law said the group will use the next few months to come up with several options for the district. Those options will be presented to the public through several community forums, tentatively planned for late October. Should everything happen as scheduled, the district could hold an election in May, Law said. The board provided the committee with some guidelines to follow as it crafts a new recommendation. These include: developing equity among the three elementary schools; addressing safety and security issues; coming up with millage amount that is in line with neighboring districts; and developing a long-range plan (about 10 years) for the improvement of all Niles' facilities. Staff writer Melissa Jackson: mjackson@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7003